April 10, 2008

Final Stats

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The 22nd ranked Alabama men's tennis team topped UAB and Samford yesterday in a double-header in Birmingham. The Tide came from behind to defeat UAB 5-2, before downing Samford 6-1. With the wins, Alabama improves to 18-8 overall.

"Our guys did a great job of coming out and doing what they need to do today against two very solid teams," said Alabama head coach Billy Pate. "UAB and Samford are both competing at the top of their respective conferences and we couldn't afford a letdown. It wasn't easy after the great win over Florida on Monday followed by long travel, class schedules and the quick turnaround in playing the doubleheader today. Now we can turn our attention to Saturday's big match and regular season finale with Auburn."

Alabama dropped the doubles point in its first match of the day against UAB but rallied back in singles to pick up the victory. The Tide swept the top of the singles lineup and earned wins at five and six to defeat the Blazers.

The Tide's Saketh Myneni defeated Hans Spangenberg 6-1, 6-4 from number one singles while Mat Thibaudeau beat Dan Cornei 7-5, 6-2 at number two. At number three, Alabama's Sammy Struyf defeated Slawomir Szeremeta 6-2, 6-2 and Daniel Buikema topped Tyrone Ewels 6-1, 6-1 at number five. Alabama's Michael Jung defeated Thomas Petrich 6-0, 6-4 at number six.

Against Samford, the Tide rolled through doubles to earn a 1-0 lead heading into singles action. The 15th ranked Tide tandem of Buikema and Thibaudeau defeated Hank Grant and Sam Huffman 8-3 at number one, while Struyf and Javier Bes defeated Walsh and Jordan Delass 8-2 an number two. On court three, Myneni and Jung beat Renan Silveria and Dewet 8-4 to wrap up doubles play.

In singles, Alabama won matches on five of the six courts to earn the win. Alabama's Thibaudeau led the Tide from number one singles with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Delass, while Myneni defeated Silveria 7-6(4), 6-4 at number two singles. At number three and four, Struyf and Buikema defeated their opponents in straight sets to pick up two more points for the Tide. Struyf defeated Dushock 6-4, 6-4, and Buikema beat Huffman 6-3, 6-3. At number six singles, Andrew Felsenthal came from behind to defeat Reynolds 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to finish out the match.

Alabama returns to the Capstone to host in-state rival Auburn Saturday, April 12 at 5:00 p.m. The Tide will be honoring its four seniors and giving away t-shirts and crocks to the first 100 people through the door. The Tide will also raffle off a Mark Gottfried autographed basketball and a Nick Saban autographed football after doubles (approximately 6:00 p.m.).

#22 Alabama 5, UAB 2
Pat M. Courington Tennis Pavilion
Birmingham, Ala.

Singles:
1. #120 Saketh Myneni (UA) d. Hans Spangenberg (UAB) 6-1, 6-4
2. #98 Mat Thibaudeau (UA) d. Dan Cornei (UAB) 7-5, 6-2
3. Sammy Struyf (UA) d. Slawomir Szeremeta (UAB) 6-2, 6-2
4. Brian Ly (UAB) d. Javier Bes (UA) 6-4, 6-2
5. Daniel Buikema (UA) d. Tyrone Ewels (UAB) 6-1, 6-1
6. Michael Jung (UA) d. Thomas Petrich (UAB) 6-0, 6-4

Doubles:
1. Jung/Myneni (UA) d. Ewels/Szeremeta (UAB) 7-6(3)
2. Ly/Spangenberg (UAB) d. Buikema/Walston (UA) 8-4
3. Cornei/Emery (UAB) d. Felsenthal/Yassine (UA) 8-2

#22 Alabama 6, Samford 1
Pat M. Courington Tennis Pavilion
Birmingham, Ala.

Singles:
1. #98 Mat Thibaudeau (UA) d. Jordan Delass (SAM) 6-3, 6-3
2. #120 Saketh Myneni (UA) d. Renan Silveria (SAM) 7-6(4), 6-4
3. Sammy Struyf (UA) d. Brian Dushock (SAM) 6-4, 6-4
4. Daniel Buikema (UA) d. Sam Huffman (SAM) 6-3, 6-3
5. Hank Grant (SAM) d. Houssam Yassine (UA) 6-4, 3-6, 10-6
6. Andrew Felsenthal (UA) d. Oliver Reynolds (SAM) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

Doubles:
1. #15 Thibaudeau/Buikema (UA) d. Grant/Huffman (SAM) 8-3
2. Struyf/Bes (UA) d. Walsh/Delass (SAM) 8-2
3. Myneni/Jung (UA) d. Silveria/Dewet (SAM) 8-4

-UA-